R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APR 8
In a move that signals a new chapter for aviation education in South India, Chennais Amirta International Aviation College has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University College of Aviation Malaysia (UniCAM) — creating a structured pathway that takes Indian students from Chennai’s classrooms to Malaysia’s international airports within a single degree programme.
- The Agreement: Chennais Amirta International Aviation College, Chennai, inks a landmark MoU with University College of Aviation Malaysia (UniCAM) — bringing world-class training directly to Indian students’ doorsteps
- The Programme Architecture: First two years in Chennai, final year split between UniCAM’s classrooms and live internships at Malaysian airports — a 3+1 model that turns degree students into globally experienced professionals
- The Curriculum Edge: Aviation 4.0, AI in flight management, airport operations innovation, and non-traditional career pathways — four days of international expert-led workshops just concluded on Chennai soil
- The Zero-Cost IATA Advantage: While other institutions charge ₹50,000–₹1.5 lakh for IATA certification prep, Chennais Amirta offers it free — delivered by the All-India First Rank Holder in IATA
- The Runway Ahead: India needs 1.5–2 lakh skilled aviation professionals by 2035. Chennais Amirta is already expanding pan-India, with a New Delhi presence on the horizon
The MoU was signed by R. Boomee Nathan, Chairman, Chennais Amirta Group of Institutions, and Mr. Umar Abdillah Anwar, Dean, UniCAM Malaysia in the presence of Mr. Kalaiarasan, Chairman, Future Dream Academy Malaysia, and Jainanak Singh, CEO, Future Dream Academy Malaysia. Also present were Banumathi (COO), Suren (Dean), Dr. Rahul (Principal), and Arun (Head of Department) from Chennais Amirta International Aviation College.
The Programme: Chennai to Kuala Lumpur, by Design
The collaboration is not a ceremonial handshake — it is a fully engineered academic pipeline. Students enrolled in the college’s three-year degree and diploma programmes complete their first two years at the Chennai campus, equipped with hands-on training using a real-life aircraft model and a purpose-built miniature airport. In the third year, they transition to Malaysia: six months of academic training at UniCAM followed by a six-month live internship at Malaysian airports.
The result is a graduate who has not merely studied aviation — but lived it, at altitude, across two countries.
Programmes on offer include a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation (3 years), B.Sc. in Air Transport, and a Diploma in Aviation and Tourism Management — all globally recognised qualifications.
Four Days That Brought the World to Chennai
Marking the launch of the collaboration, the college hosted a four-day international training programme from April 6–9, 2026 — featuring aviation industry veterans and UniCAM alumni as guest faculty. The sessions covered Aviation 4.0 and digital transformation; the growing role of artificial intelligence in aviation; innovations in airport operations and flight management; and emerging, non-traditional career pathways in the sector.
It was, in effect, a preview of what the full collaboration will deliver — global expertise, on Indian soil, for Indian students.
In His Own Words
“We are among the first colleges in South India to provide students with training at international airports as part of their academic journey. Our strong global collaborations and specialised infrastructure — including a real-life aircraft model and a miniature airport — enable immersive, practical learning. While our primary focus has been providing world-class exposure to students across South India, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, we are now expanding our reach pan-India and will soon be establishing our presence in New Delhi,” saidR. Boomee Nathan, Chairman, Chennais Amirta Group of Institutions.
Boomee Nathan also highlighted the scale of opportunity awaiting graduates: India’s aviation sector is projected to require 1.5 to 2 lakh skilled professionals by 2035 — spanning pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and ground operations staff.
Air Asia’s campus interview on May 1
Boomee Nathan further said that the world’s largest low-cost Airline Air Asia to conduct campus interview at Chennai’s Amirta International Aviation College on May 1, 2026.
The IATA Zero-Cost Differentiator
In an industry where IATA certification is widely regarded as a global passport to aviation careers, Chennais Amirta has made a choice that most institutions have not: it offers complete IATA training and exam preparation at zero cost to students. Comparable programmes at other institutions carry fees of ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.
The training is delivered by Greeshma, All-India First Rank Holder in IATA — a credential that ensures students are not just prepared, but prepared by the best.
Student-First, Always
Beyond the academic architecture, the college has built a support ecosystem designed to remove financial friction from ambition. This includes education loan assistance for international exposure costs and part-time job opportunities that allow students to earn while they learn — with strong industry integration and placement focus throughout.
Chennais Amirta’s reach already spans Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. A pan-India expansion, anchored by an upcoming New Delhi presence, is now underway.
